Romaña's sign

Alternative eponyms

Related people

Swelling around the eye caused by the entry of Trypanosoma cruzi seen in Chagas' disease.

Description

A pathogonomic, early sign of Chagas disease: unilateral severe conjunctivitis and swelling of the eyelid, inflammation of the tear gland, and swelling of regional lymph glands, caused by the entry of Trypanosoma cruzi. The sign has proved of great value in the identification of the chagasic infection in its acute phase.

The term "Mazza-Romaña" is a misnomer, as Salvador Mazza never accepted the specificity of the sign. The term Romaña's sign was proposed by the Brazilian researchers Emmanuel Dias and Evandro Chagas. Salvador Mazza was the director of the institute where Romaña worked.

What is an eponym?

An eponym is a word derived from the name of a person, whether real or fictional. A medical eponym is thus
any word related to medicine, whose name is derived from a person.

What is Whonamedit?

Whonamedit.com is a biographical dictionary of medical eponyms.
It is our ambition to present a complete survey of all medical phenomena named for a person,
with a biography of that person.

Disclaimer:

Whonamedit? does not give medical advice.
This survey of medical eponyms and the persons behind them is meant as a general interest site only.
No information found here must under any circumstances be used for medical purposes, diagnostically,
therapeutically or otherwise. If you, or anybody close to you, is affected, or believe to be
affected, by any condition mentioned here: see a doctor.